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Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A390

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
46
Overall
42
Olympus Tough TG-3 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A390 Key Specs

Olympus TG-3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 247g - 112 x 66 x 31mm
  • Introduced March 2014
  • Replacement is Olympus TG-4
Sony A390
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Launched July 2010
  • Old Model is Sony A380
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Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A390 Overview

Following is a complete overview of the Olympus TG-3 and Sony A390, former is a Waterproof while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the TG-3 (16MP) and the A390 (14MP) is fairly well matched but the TG-3 (1/2.3") and A390 (APS-C) posses different sensor size.

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The TG-3 was announced 3 years after the A390 which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-3 being a Compact camera and the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight to a full comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the TG-3 matches up versus the A390 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-3 over the Sony A390

 TG-3 A390 
LaunchedMarch 2014July 2010More modern by 45 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A390 over the Olympus TG-3

 A390 TG-3 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Olympus TG-3 and Sony A390

 TG-3 A390 
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A390 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry around your camera regularly, you'll have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus TG-3 comes with outer dimensions of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") with a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs) while the Sony A390 has sizing of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") along with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Examine the Olympus TG-3 and Sony A390 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are using at the time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the TG-3 against the A390.

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A390 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the TG-3 and A390 is 90 and 66 respectively.

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A390 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A390 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's difficult to imagine the gap between sensor sizes only by reading through technical specs. The image here should give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-3 and A390.

As you have seen, both of these cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The TG-3 using its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field tougher and the Olympus TG-3 will give you greater detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images way more aggressively. The more modern TG-3 should have an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A390 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A390 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A390 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A390 as a Portrait photography camera
37
MP count good (16MP)
provides face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
72
focusing manually
decent megapixels (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Street photography details
Sony A390 Street photography details
59
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
heavier than competition in class (247g)
76
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus TG-3
Sports photography with Sony A390
47
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
weather proof
better than average battery (330 per charge)
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
bad battery life (230 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Travel photography info
Sony A390 Travel photography info
74
better than average battery (330 shots)
weather proof
MP count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
heavier than competition in class (247g)
display is not selfie friendly
53
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
no Timelapse recording
bad battery life (230 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Landscape photography details
Sony A390 Landscape photography details
56
quite wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
weather proof
better than average battery (330 CIPA)
lack of manual focus
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
61
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
screen is small (2.7 inch)
bad battery life (230 per charge)
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-3 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A390 as a Vlogging camera
34
quite wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
no mic port
heavier than competition in class (247 grams)
9
no video recording
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Olympus TG-3 vs Sony A390 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-3 and Sony A390
 Olympus Tough TG-3Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus Tough TG-3 Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
Category Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2014-03-31 2010-07-28
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT-LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG -
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 247g (0.54 lb) 549g (1.21 lb)
Physical dimensions 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 66
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.5
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.5
DXO Low light rating not tested 607
Other
Battery life 330 images 230 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-92B NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $350 $500